Skip to Main

Medical Student & Resident Education

The Division of Pediatric Rheumatology has a significant commitment to medical education and is actively involved in the teaching of fourth-year medical students and pediatric residents, in addition to our fully-accredited Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program. Trainees in other departments also spend time in the rheumatology clinics.

Medical Students

Third-year medical students rotate through our arthritis clinic during their pediatric rotation, and an elective is available for fourth-year students. Tracey Wright, M.D., preceptor for this elective, and the other pediatric rheumatology faculty teach students to:

  • Develop a working differential diagnosis of arthritis in childhood
  • Learn a complete joint examination and the physical evaluation of rheumatologic patients
  • Examine and discuss patients from all major collagen vascular disease categories: juvenile arthritis, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Residents

Our Division provides the major instruction to pediatric residents in the evaluation of the musculoskeletal system and the assessment of the rheumatic diseases. The Division faculty provide direct teaching for the pediatric residents in the regular departmental clinical conferences, as well as part of our inpatient consultation service. Didactic teaching for the pediatric residents includes, but is not limited to:

  • Differential diagnosis of arthritis in childhood
  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
  • Systemic lupus
  • Juvenile dermatomyositis
  • Evaluation of musculoskeletal pain in children

A rheumatology elective is available for pediatric residents. Dr. Wright is the Course Director for the pediatric rheumatology residency elective. The objectives of this elective are to:

  • Develop a working differential diagnosis of arthritis in childhood
  • Learn a complete joint examination and the physical evaluation of rheumatologic patients
  • Examine and discuss patients from all major collagen vascular disease categories: juvenile arthritis, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

The residents see outpatients in our clinics under the supervision of the Division faculty. A notebook of selected articles about rheumatic disease, including original material, has been developed as curriculum for the elective. Residents are encouraged to attend clinical conferences which offer didactic teaching for the fellows.

Other Specialties

Trainees in other departments also spend time in our clinics. Residents in Physical Medicine and fellows in Internal Medicine/Rheumatology may receive some of their training through our Division.